Cable retriever

ABSTRACT

A cable retriever particularly useful with cable-operated recorders employed in recording various oil and gas well drilling operations. The device utilizes a flat spiral-type tension spring which is wound as cable is pulled from the device, and the spring rewinds the cable when the cable is released. The spring drives the cable reel through the medium of a ring gear and pinion wherein the ring gear is mounted by means of what might be characterized as an overriding clutch which functions to drive the ring gear to retrieve the cable, but which allows the ring gear to continue rotation in the event the cable breaks, to eliminate the imposition of incorrect forces on the spring and protect the spring from breakage. The reel is mounted on the device through the medium of a friction clutch which permits slippage of the reel with respect to the spring drive system in the event an excessive pulling force is imposed on the cable to protect the spring from being over-loaded.

O United States Patent 1 3,593,941

[72] Inventor Samuel H.Smith 3,040,139 6/1962 Appleton 1. 191/12.2

Oklahoma City Okla' Primary Examiner-Stanley N1 Gilreath 1 P 821504 Arsis'tant Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder [22] Filed May 21969 Attor e -D nla Lan H d D h t 45 Patented July 20,1971 y W oug H Y [73] Assignee Drillograph Company, lnc.

Oklahoma l ABSTRACT: A cable retriever particularly useful with cableoperated recorders employed in recording various oil and gas 1 [54] CABLE RETRIEVER well drilling operations. The device utilizes a flat spiral-type 7 Claims summing Figs. tension spring which is wound as cable IS pulled from the device, and the spnng rewmds the cable when the cable 15 [52] US. Cl 1. 242/107, released The Spring drives the m reel through the medium 242/107-5 of a ring gear and pinion wherein the ring gear is mounted by [5-1] Int. Cl B65h 75/48 means f what might be Characterized as an overriding clutch 1 Field of Search 242/3454, which functions to drive the ring gear to retrieve the cable, but 107, 107.1, 107.2, 107.5; 191 /l 2 2'. l 2/4 46 which allows the ring gear to continue rotation in the event the cable breaks, to eliminate the imposition of incorrect forces [56] References Cned I on the spring and protect the spring from breakage. The reel is UNITED STATES PATENTS mounted on the device through the medium of a friction 1,412,498 4/1922 Wolverton 192/46 UX clutch which permits slippage of the reel with respect to the 2,332,118 10/1943 Spinello 192/46 spring drive system in the event an excessive pulling force is 2,395,407 2/1946 Hayward 242/ 10'] X imposed on the cable to protect the spring from being over- 2,505,920 5/1950 Sporket 24 2/l07 X loaded.

CABLE RETRIEVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to improvements in cable retrieving apparatus, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a cable retrieving apparatus for use with a well drilling recorder.

2. Description of the Prior Art As it is well known in the earth boring art, it is common practice to record various drilling operations, such as the depth of penetration of the drill, by means of a recorder connected by a cable to the swivel of the drilling apparatus. The cable extends from the recorder upwardly to the top of the derrick over a suitable pulley and then downwardly into connection with the swivel in order that the cable will be puiled from the recorder as the swivel is lowered during lowering of the drilling string. A cable retriever is employed in conjunc tion with the recorder to retrieve the cable as the swivel is raised in the derrick. I

It is common practice to employ a fiat spiral-type tension spring in cable retrievers used on drilling recorders, but in the past, it has been the practice to provide a drive system between the spring and the reel on which the cable is wound which did not automatically provide independent movement of the reel. In all known prior cable retrievers, an excessive force is applied to the spring in the event the cable is either inadvertently pulled from the retriever an unanticipated amount or the cable breaks, with the result that the springs are frequently broken. Such springs are expensive and, of course, the recorder is inoperable until a broken spring can be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates an improved cable retriever having a first shaft journaled in a spring housing and utilizing a flat spiral-type tension spring having its inner end connected to the first shaft and its outer end connected to the spring housing. A ring gear is mounted on the first shaft in such a manner that the ring gear is adapted to rotate the first shaft in a direction to wind the spring when the ring gear is driven in one direction and in such a manner that the ring gear may rotate freely on the first shaft when the ring gear is driven in the opposite direction. A pinion is secured to a second shaft joumaled in the spring housing in a position to mesh with the ring gear, and a cable reel is mounted on the second shaft for turning the second shaft, the pinion, the ring gear, and the first shaft to wind the spring when cable is being pulled from the reel.

An object of the invention is to increase the service life of cable retrievers.

Another object of the invention is to protect the springs employed in cable retrievers from being wound in the wrong direction.

A further object of the invention is to protect the springs employed in cable retrievers from being wound too tightly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed cable retriever which may be easily prepared for operation and easily adjusted for various operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of the cable retriever.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is another sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly FIGS. l and 2, reference character It) generally designates the retriever of this invention which includes a spring housing 12 having a mounting flange M on one side thereof, by means of which the retriever may be supported on any apparatus with which the retriever is to be used. For example, the retriever 10 may be supported on and used in conjunction with an ap paratus for recording drilling operations as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,831,347 issued Apr. 22, 1958 to the assignee ofthis invention. Another example of use of the retriever 10 would be in conjunction with apparatus for laying down drill pipe being removed from a completed or partially completed well bore, such as is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,959,371.

As shown in FIG. 2, a cover plate 16 is secured on one end of the spring housing 112 by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts or screws 18 to provide ready access to the interior of the spring housing. A first shaft 20 is supported in the spring housing 12 by means of suitable bearings 22, with one of the bearings 22 being supported in a counter bore 24 in the end wail 26 of the housing 12 and the other bearing 22 being supported in a counterbore 28 formed in the central portion of the cover plate 16. Oppositely facing shoulders 30 adjacent the opposite ends of the shaft 20 engage the inner races of the bearings 22 and thereby hold the shaft 20 in a fixed longitudinal position in the spring housing.

A flat spiral-type tension spring 32 is positioned in the spring housing 12 adjacent the cover plate 16. The inner end 34; of the spring 32 is anchored in a slot 36 formed in the outer periphery of the shaft 2%, and the outer end 38 is anchored to the spring housing R2 in any desired manner, such as by means of a stud 40 extending into thc'housing from the cover plate 1s. As is well known in the art, the spring 32 is constructed to be wound upon turning of the shaft 20 in one direction, such as indicated by the arrow 42 and, when wound, the spring 32 will rotate the shaft 24) in the opposite direction. However, rotation of the shaft 20 in such opposite direction beyond the point where the spring 32 is unwound usually results in breakage of the spring.

A ring gear 44 is mounted on the shaft 20 between the housing end plate 2% and the spring 32 against a circumferential shoulder db, formed on the outer periphery of the shaft. As shown in FIG. 3, a bore d3 extends through the center of the ring gear 44 and is of a size to slidingly receive the corresponding portion of the shaft 20. A groove 50 is formed along one side of the bore 42% and is shaped to provide one wall 52 extending substantially along a tangent to the bore 48 and the outer periphery of the shaft 20, and an opposite wall 5% extending substantially at a right angle to the center lines of the bore 48 and shaft it may also be noted that the wall 54 of the groove 50 faces in the direction in which the shaft 20 is turned for winding the spring 32 and extends substantially radially with respect to the shaft 20. A pair of pins 56 are reciprocally disposed in mating bores 58 extending radially and partially through the shaft 20. Each pin 56 is urged outwardly with respect to the shaft 20 by means of a compression spring 60 positioned between the inner end of the respective pin and the inner end of the respective bore 58. It will thus be seen that the pins as form spring-loaded detents and will enter the groove 50 when the groove 50 is aligned with the bores 58. When the pins 56 do extend into the groove 50 and the gear dd is turned in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3, the wall 54 of the groove 50 will engage the pins 56 and provide rotation of the shaft 20 in the same direction, which, it may be noted, is the direction for winding of the spring 32. On the other hand, if the gear Ml is turned in the opposite direction with respect to the shaft 20, the wall 52 of the groove 50 will "cam" the pins 56 into the bores 5% against the actions of the springs 60, such that the gear M may rotate freely on the shaft 20 in the direction opposite to the arrow shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ring gear 44 meshes with a pinion 62 supported in one end of a second shaft 64 by means of a set screw 66. The second shaft 64 is journaled in a bore 68 formed in the wall 26 of the spring housing 12 by means of a pair of suitable bearings 70. The outer race of the bearing 741 innermost in the housing 12 is in abutting relation against a shoulder 72 formed in the spring housing, and the outer race of the outermost bearing 70 bears against a retaining ring 74 secured in a mating groove in the bore 68. The inner race of the inner bearing 70 is supported against movement outwardly along the shaft 64 by a retaining ring 76 secured in a mating groove around the outer periphery of the shaft 64. The inner race of the outer bearing 70 is supported in the fixed position on the shaft 64 between a retaining ring 78 seated in a mating groove around the shaft 64, and a circumferential shoulder 80 formed on the outer periphery of the shaft 64. it will thus be seen that the bearings 70 not only journal the shaft 64 in the spring housing 12 but also prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 64 in the spring housing to retain the pinion 62 in mesh with the ring gear 44.

The shaft 64 projects from the spring housing 12 on the side thereof opposite the cover plate 16 and the free end 82 of the shaft 64 has a threaded bore 84 therein to receive a threaded stud 86 extending from a handle 88. The threads in the bore 84 and on the stud 86 are right hand threads, such that the handle 88 may be employed for turning the shaft 64 in the direction indicated by the arrow 90, but if the shaft 64 is held in a fixed position and the handle 88 is turned in the opposite direction, the stud 86 will be unthreaded from the threads in the bore 84 and the handle 88 will be removed.

A sleeve 92 is telescoped over and freely rotatable on the shaft 64 between the spring housing 12 and the free end 82 of the shah, and a cable reel 94 is mounted on the sleeve 92. A bore 95 is formed through the center of the reel 94 and has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve 92,whereby the reel 94 may turn on the sleeve 92, as well as move lengthwise with respect to the sleeve 92. A circular drive plate 96 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured on the outer end 98 of the sleeve 92 opposite to the spring housing 12.

A pad of friction material 100 is suitably secured on the end 102 of the reel 94 facing the drive plate 96. The friction material 100 may be of any desired composition, such as that employed in automobile brake linings, to provide a frictional driving connection between the drive plate 96 and the reel 94 when the drive plate 96 is urged toward the reel 94, and yet allow slippage of the reel 94 with respect to the drive plate 96 in the vent an excessive force is applied to the reel tending to rotate the reel with respect to the drive plate 96.

The drive plate 96 is constantly urged toward the reel 94 by means of a spring-biasing mechanism 184. The mechanism 104 comprises a ring 106 supported on the end 108 of the sleeve 92 by means of a retaining ring 110 fitting in a mating groove 112 in the outer periphery of the sleeve. The ring 106, retaining ring 110 and groove 112 are sized such that the ring 106 may rotate with respect to the sleeve 92. A plurality of helical compression springs 114 are mounted in circumferentially spaced bores 116 formed in the reel 94 facing in a direction opposite to the end 102 of the reel. Each compression spring 114 is anchored to the ring 106 by a retainer H8 and to a screw 120 by a retainer 122. Each screw 120 is in turn threadedly secured in a threaded bore 124 extending partially through the reel 94. The head 126 of each screw 124 is accessible by means of aligned apertures 128 formed in the drive plate 96 and friction material 100. It will thus be seen that the compression springs [14 continuously urge the sleeve 92 and drive plate 96 toward the spring housing 12, and urge the reel 94 away from the spring housing 12, to maintain engagement between the friction material 100 and the drive plate 96. Further, the force applied by the compression springs 114 may be easily adjusted by means of a screw driver or the like inserted through the apertures 128 into engagement with the screws 120.

The drive plate 96 is selectively connected to the shaft 64 by means of a pawl 130 pivotally secured on a stud or bolt 132 extending from the exposed face of the drive plate. As shown in FIG. 1, the free end I34 of the pawl 130 is squared off to engage a square shoulder 136 formed at one side ofa groove 138 in the outer periphery of the shaft 64 when the pawl 130 is in the full line position shown in FIG. 1. in this position it will be seen that rotation of the drive plate 96 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 will provide rotation of the shaft 64 in the same direction.

The pawl 130 may be retracted from the shaft 64 to a second, inoperative position as illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. I, in the event it is desired to provide no connection between the drive plate 96 and the shaft 64. The pawl 130 is held in either the full line position or the dashed line position shown in FIG. 1 by means of a suitable spring 140 anchored between the pawl 130 and the adjacent surface of the drive plate 96. The pawl 130 is moved manually between the two positions indicated by means of a stud 142 projecting from the side of the pawl, and is limited in its movement to the dashed line position by a stop 144 extending from the adjacent surface of the drive plate 96. The pawl 130 is held in position lengthwise on the bolt 132 by means ofa suitable nut 146 and washer 148.

The drive plate 96 and sleeve 92 are held in the desired lengthwise positions on the shaft by means of a second pawl 150 pivotally secured to the drive plate 96 by a bolt 152 and extending into a circumferential groove 154 formed in the outer periphery of the shaft 64. With the pawl 150 in full line position shown in FIG. 1, it will be apparent that the drive plate 96 and sleeve 92 are anchored against lengthwise movement on the shaft 64. On the other hand, the pawl 150 may be retracted from the groove 154 by rotation on the shaft 152 to release the drive plate 96 and sleeve 92 from the shaft 64 and permit ready removal of the reel 94 and related structure from off of the free end 82 of the shaft 64.

The reel 94 has a reserve cable storage section 156 and a working section 158 of larger diameter. The cable 160 to be retrieved by the device has one end '(not shown) thereof secured to the storage section 156 and a reserve supply of the cable is wound around the storage section. The cable 160 is then extended through a groove (not shown) into the working section 158 and the desired amount of the cable is wound around the working section 158. The free end (not shown) of the cable 160 is then extended into connection with any apparatus, such as the swivel of a well drilling apparatus, which it is desired for the cable to follow.

OPERATION With the spring housing 12 supported in a stationary position by means of the mounting flange 14, the pawl 130 is positioned in the dashed line position as illustrated in FIG. 1 to free the reel 94 from the shaft 64. The cable 160 is then pulled from the reel 94 and may be, for example, threaded through a pulley at the top of a derrick. The free end of the cable is then connected to some moving device, such as the swivel of a well drilling apparatus.

The handle 88 is then connected to the shaft 64 by threading the stud 86 into the bore 84, and the handle 88 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow 90 to practically wind the spring 32. it will be observed that rotation of shaft 64 in the direction indicated will not turn the reel 94, but will turn the pinion 62 and ring gear 44. The ring gear 44 will be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 in FIG. 2, and the movement of the gear 44 will be transmitted through the wall 54 (FIG. 3) and pins 56 to turn the shaft 20 and wind the spring 32. When the spring 32 has been wound to the desired extent, the pawl 130 is moved to the full line position shown in H6. 1 to engage the wall 136 of the slot 138 and connect the drive plate 96 to the shaft 64. The handle 88 is then released and the spring 32 will turn the reel 94 in a direction to wind the cable 160 on the reel and remove any slack which may be in the cable 160.

The spring 32 acts on the shaft to turnthe shaft in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 42. The movement of the shaft 20 is transmitted through the pins 56 and the shoulder 54 to turn the ring gear 44, in the same direction. The ring gear 44 in turn meshes with the pinion 62 to turn the shaft in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 90. Rotation of shaft 64 provides rotation of the reel 94 in the same direction through the medium of the pawl 130, shaft 132, drive plate 96 and frictional material 100 for the rewinding operation. When the slack is removed from the cable 160, the handle 88 may be removed by unthreading the stud 86 from the threaded bore 84.

As the cable 160 is pulled from the reel 94, it will be apparent that the reel 94 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow 90. This movement is transmitted through the friction material 100, drive plate 96, bolt 132 and pawl 130 to turn the shaft 64 and pinion 62 in the same direction. The rotation of the pinion 62 drives the ring gear 44 to wind the spring 32 through the medium of the wall 54, pins 56 and shaft 20. However, in the event the cable 160 is pulled beyond the point where the spring 32 is fully wound, rotation of the drive plate 96 will be restricted in view of its connection through the shaft 64, pinion 62, ring gear 44 and shaft 20, and continued pull on the cable 160 will tend to overwind the spring 32. In this later event, the reel 94 will slip with respect to the drive plate 96 and turn on the sleeve 92, such that an excessive force will not be applied to the spring 32 and the spring 32 will not be overwound.

When the pulling force on the cable 150 is released, as by the swivel of the drilling apparatus being moved upwardly in the derrick, the spring 32 will rewind the cable on the reel 94 in the manner described above to remove the slack in the cable 160. However, in the event the cable 160 should break, the spring 32 will continue rotating the reel 94 in a direction to wind the cable on the reel until the spring 32 becomes unwound. At this time, the spring 32 will tend to stop the rotation of shaft 20, yet the momentum built up in the ring gear 44 and other rotating components of the drive system will tend to continue the rotation of the ring gear 44. Therefore, the ring gear 44 will turn on the shaft 20 in the direction opposite to the arrow shown in FIG. 3, and the wall 52 of the groove 50 will act on the free ends of the pins 56 to retract the pins 56 into the bores 58 of the shaft 20 and the pins 56 will not interfere with continued rotation of the gear 44 in the stated direction. Thus, the continued rotation of the gear M will have a minimum tendency to turn the shaft 20 and wind the spring 32 in the wrong direction, such that breakage of the spring 32 will be held to a minimum.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention will increase the service life of cable retrieving devices. Spring breakage from both overwinding and winding of the spring in the wrong direction will be reduced to a minimum. it will also be apparent that the present invention provides s simply constructed cable retriever which may be economically manufactured and which may be adjusted to retrieve various lengths of cables.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts or elements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawing without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A cable retriever, comprising:

a stationary spring housing;

a first shaft joumaled in the spring housing;

a flat spiral-type tension spring having an inner end connected to the first shaft and an outer end connected to the spring housing;

a ring gear;

means mounting the ring gear on the first shaft adapted to rotate the first shaft in a direction to wind the spring when the ring gear is driven in one direction and adapted to provide free rotation of the ring gear on the shaft when i the ring gear is driven in the opposite direction;

a second shaftjournaled in the s ring housing;

a plnion secured to the second s aft and positioned to mesh with the ring gear; and

a reel mounted on the second shaft adapted to receive the cable for turning the second shaft, pinion, ring gear and first shaft to wind the spring when cable is being pulled from the reel, whereby the spring rewinds the cable on the reel when the cable is released; and characterized further to include:

a sleeve journaled on the second shaft and on which the reel is journaled;

a drive plate secured to the sleeve and extending radially therefrom at one end of the reel;

friction material carried by the reel on the side thereof facing the drive plate;

spring biased means urging the sleeve and drive plate in a direction to move the friction material into engagement with the drive plate; and

means for selectively connecting the drive plate to the second shaft for rotation with the second shaft.

2. A cable retriever as defined in claim I wherein said spring biased means comprises:

a ring journaled on the sleeve in spaced relation from the drive plate and secured to the sleeve against lengthwise movement;

a plurality of compression springs carried by the reel in circumferentially spaced relation around the sleeve; and

a screw threadedly secured in the reel for each compression spring in a position to adjustably control the compression of the respective spring and thereby control the force with which the friction material is pressed against the drive plate.

3. A cable retriever as defined in claim 2 wherein the drive plate and friction material are apertures in alignment with each of the screws for accessibility of the screws from the side of the drive plate facing away from the reel.

4. A cable retriever as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for selectively connecting the drive plate to the second shaft comprises:

a notch in the outer periphery of the second shaft having one wall extending substantially radially with respect to the second shaft;

a pawl pivotally secured to the drive plate on an axis parallel with the second shaft having a first position to engage the radial wall of the notch when the cable is being pulled from the reel, and a second position out of engagement with the notch; and i a spring engaging the pawl and the drive plate to hold the pawl selectively in said first and second positions.

5. A cable retriever as defined in claim 4 characterized further to include a handle detachably secured to the second shaft for turning the second shaft independently of the reel and windihg the flat spiral-type tension spring.

6. A cable retriever as defined in claim 2 wherein the second shaft has a circumferential groove formed therein adjacent the drive plate, and characterized further to include a pawl pivotally secured to the drive plate on an axis parallel with the second shaft in a position to extend into said circumferential groove and hold the sleeve and reel on the second shaft.

-7. A cable retriever as defined in claim 2 wherein the reel comprises a working section for containing the cable normally used, and a storage section for containing a reserve of the cable. 

1. A cable retriever, comprising: a stationary spring housing; a first shaft journaled in the spring housing; a flat spiral-type tension spring having an inner end connected to the first shaft and an outer end connected to the spring housing; a ring gear; means mounting the ring gear on the first shaft adapted to rotate the first shaft in a direction to wind the spring when the ring gear is driven in one direction and adapted to provide free rotation of the ring gear on the shaft when the ring gear is driven in the opposite direction; a second shaft journaled in the spring housing; a pinion secured to the second shaft and positioned to mesh with the ring gear; and a reel mounted on the second shaft adapted to receive the cable for turning the second shaft, pinion, ring gear and first shaft to wind the spring when cable is being pulled from the reel, whereby the spring rewinds the cable on the reel when the cable is released; and characterized further to include: a sleeve journaled on the second shaft and on which the reel is journaled; a drive plate secured to the sleeve and extending radially therefrom at one end of the reel; friction material carried by the reel on the side thereof facing the drive plate; spring biased means urging the sleeve and drive plate in a direction to move the friction material into engagement with the drive plate; and means for selectively connecting the drive plate to the second shaft for rotation with the second shaft.
 2. A cable retriever as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring biased means comprises: a ring journaled on the sleeve in spaced relation from the drive plate and secured to the sleeve against lengthwise movement; a plurality of compression springs carried by the reel in circumferentially spaced relation around the sleeve; and a screw threadedly secured in the reel for each compression spring in a position to adjustably control the compression of the respective spring and thereby control the force with which the friction material is pressed against the drive plate.
 3. A cable retriever as defined in claim 2 wherein the drive plate and friction material are apertures in alignment with each of the screws for accessibility of the screws from the side of the drive plate facing away from the reel.
 4. A cable retriever as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for selectively connecting the drive plate to the second shaft comprises: a notch in the outer periphery of the second shaft having one wall extending substantially radially with respect to the second shaft; a pawl pivotally secured to the drive plate on an axis parallel with the second shaft having a first position to engage the radial wall of the notch when the cable is being pulled from the reel, and a second position out of engagement with the notch; and a spring engaging the pawl and the drive plate to hold the pawl selectively in said first and second positions.
 5. A cable retriever as defined in claim 4 characterized further to include a handle detachably secured to the second shaft for turning the second shaft independently of the reel and windihg the flat spiral-type tension spring.
 6. A cable retriever as defined in claim 2 wherein the second shaft has a circumferential groove formed therein adjacent the drive plate, and characterized further to include a pawl pivotally secured to the drive plate on an axis parallel with the second shaft in a position to extend into said circumferential groove and hold the sleeve and reel on the second shaft.
 7. A cable retriever as defined in claim 2 wherein the reel comprises a working section for containing the cable normally used, and a storage section for containing a reserve of the cable. 